Villambistia

What to see in Villambistia?

New Hermitage

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Hermitage of Saint Roch Villambistia

Hermitage of Saint Roch in Villambistia The Hermitage of Saint Roch is a hermitage in Villambistia, Burgos Province, located at

New Church

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Church of Saint Stephen Villambistia

Church of Saint Stephen in Villambistia The Church of Saint Stephen is a church in Villambistia, Burgos Province, located at

History of Villambistia

The earliest known written mention of Villambistia dates from 1515. Between 1785 and 1833 it belonged to the Hermandad de Villafranca Montes de Oca, in the Juarros district, one of the fourteen localities of that jurisdiction within the Intendancy of Burgos. With the end of the Ancien Régime it became a constitutional municipality in the district of Belorado, in Old Castile.

Heritage of Villambistia

Church of Saint Stephen

It dates from the 17th century and its most valuable piece is the main altarpiece, which came from the vanished convent of San Francisco in Belorado.

Hermitage of Saint Roch

This 18th-century hermitage, on the way out of the village, is dedicated to the pilgrim saint par excellence, a reminder of how closely Villambistia has been linked to the Camino.

Services

Although it is a very small village, pilgrims will find the basics:

• Bar-restaurant in the same building as the hostel, with home cooking and fresh bread.
• Doctor’s surgery one day a week (Tuesdays).
• Good mobile coverage.

How to get there

The village lies beside the N-120 road, which links Burgos and Logroño, and has buses connecting it with other points on the Camino, useful if you need to skip ahead or make up a stage.

Festivities

The festivities run from 14 to 16 August, in honour of Our Lady and Saint Roch, with processions, dances and activities that bring residents and visitors together.

Coat of arms and flag

In 2007 Villambistia adopted a coat of arms and a flag. The blue shield bears a silver fountain and two gold pilgrim scallop shells, under a closed royal crown; the flag has two equal stripes, blue and white, with two yellow shells on the blue one. The village fountain and the Camino, in short.

Population

In the 19th century 189 people lived here; today there are about forty, a fall very similar to that of almost every small village in Castile.

What to eat

The food is that of Burgos Province: roast suckling lamb, Burgos black pudding and fresh cheese, simple and very local dishes.

In short

Villambistia is small, but it has history, a fountain famous among pilgrims and a very close relationship with the Camino Frances, which even shows in its coat of arms.